Page 15 of Poolside

A few years ago, he’d ended up with a massive book all about the life of Alexander the Great as a white elephant gift. David had been such an asshole about Tommy probably not being able to read it that he decided to read the whole thing just to spite him.

No one was more shocked than Tommy when he’d loved it. Alexander had been calculating, but human. He’d been a military genius, and yet still opened himself up to lovers. He was driven and successful, everything Tommy aspired to be.

Since then he’d read a few other books, listened to a shit-ton of podcasts, and watched a lot of documentaries. His favorite was about a guy who straight up followed in Alexander’s footsteps, climbing the Hindu Kush mountains on foot and walking through ruins at Samarkand.

“Hey.”

Tommy glanced across the table at Chuck’s raised voice. Everyone around him went quiet, all eyes trained on the red-headed man.

He looked nervous. Tommy frowned, about to jump in and ask if he was alright, but Chuck kept talking.

“So,” he began, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. His reddish brows pulled low over his eyes. “I want to tell you all something.”

David spoke up. “What’s up?”

Tommy couldn’t take his eyes off of Chuck’s face. He watched him lick his lips, watched one of his long and slender fingers scratch the tip of his nose. His blue eyes slid across the table to look directly at Tommy, and he lookedscared.

Tommy didn’t know what to do, so he gave him a little nod and a smile.

“I’m gay.” Chuck said the words directly to him, and then his eyes dropped down to the table. “And, well, I wanted you all to know that.”

Oh.

Immediately, Tommy glanced around the table. People looked surprised, but no one looked uncomfortable. Something in him relaxed at that. When his eyes landed back on Chuck, he caught a pink flush on his cheeks. His shoulders were bunched up around his ears, like he was bracing for impact.

Say something, Tommy. He needs you to say something.

Just as he was opening his mouth, Keaton reached a hand out and clasped Chuck on the shoulder. His stiff posture immediately softened, andfuck, it should have been Tommy there next to him. “Thanks for trusting us, Chuck,” Keaton said, obviously sincere.

“We love you and are here for you,” Rebecca added, and everyone, including Tommy, nodded their agreement. Chuck was the glue that kept the group together. Their love for him, theirsupportfor him, would never be in question.

Tommy opened his mouth again, not entirely sure what he was going to say, but David beat him to the punch. “Congratulations, man. Is this, um, a new thing?” He winced. “Sorry, is that okay to ask?”

Chuck looked up from the table, and Tommy almost collapsed with relief when he saw he was smiling. It was a bit more hesitant of a smile than Tommy was used to seeing, but Chuck was there and he was smiling, and shit, he lookedrelieved.

“I’ve known since high school,” Chuck said.

Damn. Sincehigh school? And all those years they’d been harassing him about picking up girls and asking why he was single. Fuck, even the last time they’d been at The Grove, they’d hassled him about sneaking around to date women. Tommy’s stomach turned. God, was Chuck even single?

“Are you single?”

It took Tommy a second to realize it was his voice he heard asking that out loud. That the first thing out of his stupid mouth to his best friend who’d just done a really fucking brave thing by coming out wasare you single.

Fuck,he was the worst.

“Seriously, T?” David glared at him across the table.

But Chuck put a hand on David’s shoulder and looked up at Tommy, blue eyes bright and so fucking clear. “Me being gay does nothing to change the fact that I’m single.”

“But you’re a catch,” Tommy said, honestly confused. He’d never understood how Chuck was single. Chuck was everything a person could want: warm, affectionate, sincere, a great listener. He paid attention to the little things and made whoever was around him feel like they mattered.

Tommy hadn’t been good at that. According to his ex, he’d focused all of his time and energy on the wrong things, and in doing so had neglected those little, essential pieces solid relationships were built upon.

But now Chuck was looking at him curiously, like something he’d said hadn’t made sense.

“So where does one go to find a boyfriend?” David was asking, already looking like a man on a mission. “T’s right: you’re a catch. So let’s find you someone.”

“Chuck, let me know if you want me to tell them to leave you alone,” Rebecca said. “No one says youhaveto be with someone.”

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